Print Management Facility

The architecture of Print Management Facility (PMF) on z/OS is centered around several key components that facilitate the creation and management of print output for AFP printers. The core components include: Font Management Services, which allow for the creation, editing, and manipulation of character raster patterns, character groups, and code point assignments; Form Management Services, used to create forms (FORMDEF) that define the position, number of copies, overlay control, data suppression, and offset stacking; Page Management Services, which create page definitions (PAGEDEF) to define paper size, orientation, fonts, page segments, line spacing, and line and field placement; and Conversion Services, which convert forms control buffer (FCB) data to a PAGEDEF. These components interact through the TSO interface, providing a menu-driven environment for users to access and utilize the various functionalities.

PMF relies on GDDM for graphical support and APL2 for programming support. Data storage is primarily file-based, with objects such as fonts, forms, and page definitions stored in libraries. There are no specific network ports or protocols used by PMF, as it operates within the z/OS environment.

Security is handled through z/OS security mechanisms, such as RACF, which control user access and permissions. PMF does not expose any APIs for external integration. The system is designed to provide a comprehensive solution for managing print output, ensuring compatibility with AFP printers and enabling users to control the layout and formatting of printed documents.